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SFA student affairs and higher education graduate program inducts inaugural honor society members

Division of University Marketing Communications
•
May 18, 2023
Sofia Dettmers, Aaliyah Johnson, Paige Vadnais and Ashton Maisel

From left to right, Sofia Dettmers, Aaliyah Johnson, Paige Vadnais and Ashton Maisel were the inaugural inductees into the student affairs and higher education program’s honor society, Chi Sigma Alpha, in a ceremony held prior to their May graduation. Not pictured is Marisa Wood who was unable to attend.

Paige Vadnais appears with Dr. Veronica Beavers, Dr. Pietro A. Sasso, Dr. Hollie Smith, Lacey Folsom and Dr. Michara DeLaney-Fields

Paige Vadnais, center, was presented the Dr. Adam Eugene Peck SAHE Student of the Year Award during the Chi Sigma Alpha honor society induction ceremony held in May. Joining Vadnais, from left to right, are Dr. Veronica Beavers, deputy chief diversity officer and director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs; Dr. Pietro A. Sasso, associate professor in human services and educational leadership and program co-director; Dr. Hollie Smith, executive director of student life and SAHE co-director; Lacey Folsom, director of student engagement; and Dr. Michara DeLaney-Fields, chief diversity officer.

Ashton Maisel appears with Dr. Veronica Beavers, Dr. Pietro A. Sasso, Dr. Hollie Smith, Lacey Folsom and Dr. Michara DeLaney-Fields

Ashton Maisel was awarded the Outstanding Contributions by a SAHE Student for Inclusion Award during the Chi Sigma Alpha honor society induction ceremony held in May. Joining Maisel, from left to right, are Dr. Veronica Beavers, deputy chief diversity officer and director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs; Dr. Pietro A. Sasso, associate professor in human services and educational leadership and program co-director; Dr. Hollie Smith, executive director of student life and SAHE co-director; Lacey Folsom, director of student engagement; and Dr. Michara DeLaney-Fields, chief diversity officer.

Graduation stoles and certificates presented to the five inductees are arranged on a table

The five inaugural inductees into Stephen F. Austin State University’s chapter of the Chi Sigma Alpha honor society were presented a graduation stole and a certificate during a ceremony held in May.


NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Five Stephen F. Austin State University graduates — Sofia Dettmers, Aaliyah Johnson, Ashton Maisel, Paige Vadnais and Marisa Wood — were recognized as inaugural inductees in the student affairs and higher education program’s honor society, Chi Sigma Alpha, during a ceremony held prior to their graduation in May.
 
Founded in 2001 at Virginia Tech, Chi Sigma Alpha is an international honor society to promote and recognize excellence in academics, research and service to the profession of student affairs and higher education administration.
 
An SFA chapter of the society was founded this year to acknowledge the recent expanded interest in the Master of Arts in student affairs and higher education program, according to Dr. Pietro A. Sasso, associate professor in human services and educational leadership and program co-director. To be inducted, candidates must possess at least a 3.7 GPA by graduation.
 
“The honor society recognizes the important contributions that student affairs and higher education professionals contribute to student success and student development,” Sasso said. “The society identifies the highest achieving candidates from higher education administration graduate programs across the country.”
 
The ceremony was held in SFA’s Baker Pattillo Student Center, and students were inducted in front of program faculty members, fellow students and parents. Trina Menefee, academic advisor for the College of Sciences and Mathematics, served as a guest speaker.
 
Dr. Hollie Smith, executive director of student life and SAHE co-director, swore in the candidates; Dr. Michara DeLaney-Fields, chief diversity officer, presented the candidates with the Chi Sigma Alpha graduation stole; and Dr. Veronica Beavers, deputy chief diversity officer and director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, presented candidates with the honor society certificates.
 
Sasso concluded the ceremony by presenting awards. Vadnais received the Dr. Adam Eugene Peck SAHE Student of the Year Award, which was named after the late Dr. Adam Peck who formerly served as SFA assistant vice president and dean of student affairs. Maisel received the Outstanding Contributions by a SAHE Student for Inclusion Award.
 
The mission of the Master of Arts in student affairs and higher education program is to develop and advance higher education professionals across the competencies of diversity, assessment, college student development and student success who will demonstrate leadership within the profession.
 
For more information about the program or the honor society, visit sfasu.edu/humanservices or contact Sasso at Pietro.Sasso@sfasu.edu.